CVE-2025-43223: Apple iPadOS Denial-of-Service Vulnerability

CVE-2025-43223 Overview

CVE-2025-43223 is a denial-of-service vulnerability affecting multiple Apple operating systems. The flaw allows a non-privileged user to modify restricted network settings due to improper input validation. Apple addressed the issue with improved input validation across its product line. The vulnerability is categorized under [CWE-20] Improper Input Validation and impacts the availability of affected systems. Apple released fixes in iOS 18.6, iPadOS 18.6, iPadOS 17.7.9, macOS Sequoia 15.6, macOS Sonoma 14.7.7, macOS Ventura 13.7.7, tvOS 18.6, visionOS 2.6, and watchOS 11.6.

Critical Impact

A non-privileged user may be able to modify restricted network settings, resulting in a denial-of-service condition that affects system availability across Apple's operating system ecosystem.

Affected Products

• Apple iOS and iPadOS (versions prior to 18.6, and iPadOS prior to 17.7.9)
• Apple macOS Sequoia, Sonoma, and Ventura (prior to 15.6, 14.7.7, and 13.7.7 respectively)
• Apple tvOS 18.6, visionOS 2.6, and watchOS 11.6

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-07-30 - CVE-2025-43223 published to NVD
• 2026-04-02 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-43223

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability stems from improper input validation in a component that governs network settings on Apple operating systems. A non-privileged local or network-adjacent user can supply crafted input that bypasses validation checks. This allows modification of network configuration values that should remain restricted to privileged contexts.

The altered settings can disrupt normal network operations, producing a denial-of-service condition. The CWE-20 classification reflects the absence of sufficient checks on user-supplied data before it reaches privileged configuration logic. Apple's advisory confirms the fix was implemented by adding stronger validation to reject malformed or unauthorized input.

With an EPSS score of 0.216% (percentile 43.9), exploitation activity remains low, and no public proof-of-concept code has been released. The issue is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or insufficient validation of input passed to a network configuration interface. The affected component accepts modification requests without adequately verifying the caller's privilege level or the legitimacy of the supplied values. As a result, restricted network parameters can be altered by callers that should lack such authority.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based with low complexity and requires no privileges or user interaction. A non-privileged user invokes the vulnerable network setting interface with crafted parameters. The system processes the input without enforcing proper restrictions, leading to unauthorized configuration changes and a denial-of-service outcome. Confidentiality and integrity remain unaffected; only availability is impacted.

For exploitation technical details, refer to the Apple Support Document #124147 and related advisories.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-43223

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected modifications to network configuration profiles or interface settings on Apple devices
• Loss of network connectivity or degraded network performance correlated with non-administrative user activity
• System logs showing network setting changes initiated by accounts lacking administrative privileges

Detection Strategies

• Monitor endpoint telemetry for unauthorized changes to network preference files and configuration profiles on macOS, iOS, and iPadOS endpoints
• Audit privileged API calls related to network configuration and correlate the caller's process and user context
• Compare device OS build numbers against the patched versions to identify unpatched assets in the fleet

Monitoring Recommendations

• Track macOS unified logs for entries related to network configuration daemons and flag anomalous modification events
• Use mobile device management (MDM) reporting to confirm OS version compliance across iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS devices
• Alert on repeated network interface state changes that suggest abuse of the vulnerable interface

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-43223

Immediate Actions Required

• Update affected Apple devices to iOS 18.6, iPadOS 18.6, iPadOS 17.7.9, macOS Sequoia 15.6, macOS Sonoma 14.7.7, macOS Ventura 13.7.7, tvOS 18.6, visionOS 2.6, or watchOS 11.6
• Deploy the updates through MDM to ensure rapid coverage of managed fleets
• Inventory unmanaged devices and prioritize them for manual remediation

Patch Information

Apple published fixes in the following advisories: Apple Support Document #124147, Apple Support Document #124148, Apple Support Document #124149, Apple Support Document #124150, Apple Support Document #124151, Apple Support Document #124153, Apple Support Document #124154, and Apple Support Document #124155. Each advisory maps to a specific operating system release containing the input validation fix.

Workarounds

• No vendor-supplied workaround exists; applying the patched OS release is the supported remediation
• Restrict access to multi-user devices and limit non-administrative accounts where feasible until updates are deployed
• Use MDM configuration profiles to enforce baseline network settings and detect drift on devices awaiting patching

# Verify macOS build version against the patched release
sw_vers -productVersion

# Trigger software update check on macOS
sudo softwareupdate --list
sudo softwareupdate --install --all --restart